Men Share What It’s Like To Buy Sanitary Pads

Menstruation is something that we still don’t feel comfortable talking about in public(at least for most of the girls). Probably guys can’t even understand half of that pain that we go through like almost every month. I wonder ‘would guys buy sanitary pads for their girlfriend if she asked for it’, and when I looked it up on Quora, the community out there had expressed their thoughts, suggestions and experiences. Few sympathized but all-in-all most of them agreed that a guy could and should buy sanitary pads if required.

Compiled below are some amusing and heartfelt narrations from all over the world from guys who experienced buying sanitary napkins and pads:

Photo Courtesy: BBC

1. “The first time I did I was 18. The cashier said something designed to embarrass me. I called him a dick and left.

My girlfriend was at home wrapped up around the bundle of pain that was her personal hell during the first day of her period, and running out of tampons. If I hadn’t stepped up to help, due to some testosterone fuelled stereotype idea that men don’t buy sanitary products, I’d have been a bigger dick than the cashier. Don’t be that guy. You should be secure enough to buy women’s stuff if need be. If you’re not, then that’s something to work on.” (sic)

Photo Courtesy: Viddsee BUZZ

2. “So the only person who could go out was me. At that time I probably wasn’t aware of what pads and periods were. I went out to the pharmacy a block or two from the house with the instructions of buying pads. Perhaps my sister should have been more clear but it didn’t cross her mind so, 20 minutes later I came fuming.

Pharmacist: “long or short”?

Me: ….uhhh

Pharmacist: “ultra, maxi or regular”?

Me: ….uhhh

Pharmacist: “Wings or no wings”

Me: (apparently fed up by now) what?! are they gonna fly”? (sic)

Photo Courtesy: BuzzPinas

3. “2-3 years ago, my girlfriend and I had planned to meet up for lunch one day. On her way she realized that she had started menstruating, a bit earlier than usual, and she din’t have her emergency sanitary pads.

As she was travelling by local train in Mumbai, she called me up and asked me if it would be okay for me to buy sanitary pads for her and meet her at the station itself. I have to say that she felt very ashamed to ask me this as, supposedly, it is not common for an Indian girl to ask some male to buy sanitary pads.

Personally, I din’t feel any reason for her or me to be ashamed as it is a natural process and it isn’t a topic one should be afraid of discussing about. On buying sanitary pads at a local medical store, I realized how they wrap everything in opaque paper bags and put it in a black polythene bag, lest someone see what you’re carrying. Not aware of this horrible practice, I realized what women might have to go through on a daily basis!

We are, sadly, ashamed of discussing menstruation and the pain women go through during this period. It is up to us men to do our bit and help them in every way possible on these days. (sic)”

Photo Courtesy: LinkedIn

4. “It took me three times, to pick the right one… where every time I land up in the shop I pick, I choose something wrong only to get a frustrated look from her when I deliver.

In the previous two attempts I couldn’t discuss that with the shopkeeper as he was pretty occupied besides I felt shy to reach out to him as loudly to get his attention. The third time I confirmed with shopkeeper as I got rid of my shy feeling, somehow I did remind myself of the stuff like “we are in an advanced century”, “there’s nothing wrong in this”, and more to make that bold move. I can’t imagine how girls could manage such situations when they face for the first time. (sic)”

Photo Courtesy: Twiiter

5. “In a country like India, where people hardly discuss menstruation, a lot many people find it awkward to buy it. This awkwardness is quite natural as we all are deeply rooted with this taboo.

Although a lot many girls also find it awkward but if she is asking you, then there is not any point of thinking it. Go and buy it man. (sic)”

Photo Courtesy: Twitter

In the end, let’s all remember that menstruation is totally normal and fine and there shouldn’t be any secrecy in talking about it in public. If a girl is asking for your help then try helping her instead of giving her a hush-hush attitude. Recently, few companies started giving their employees a first day of period leave and some of the organizations are appealing to make sanitary pads GST free. Let us know how do you feel about this in the comments below. Don’t forget to like and share and subscribe with us! Till then happy reading!